Third‑country MNEs, trade wars, and competitive opportunities: a real‑options perspective

While the world fixates on the economic damage caused by trade wars, a new study reveals how "outsider" multinational firms are quietly turning geopolitical chaos into a massive growth opportunity. This podcast explores how companies, like Volkswagen and Airbus, which are from neutral nations, are leveraging their outsider status to aggressively scale up operations inside conflict zones like China, capitalizing on cheaper assets and reduced competition from American rivals. Join this podcast to discover why possessing a vast global network, strong local partnerships, and favorable bilateral agreements are the ultimate keys to transforming trade barriers into competitive windfalls.

Citation: Ma, H., & Clougherty, J.A. (2025). Third-country MNEs, trade wars, and competitive opportunities: a real-options perspective. Journal of International Business Studies https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-025-00821-y